Letters to the Editors

All wildlife is under pressure here

Re: People, dogs take priority over birds, letter, Feb. 27.

Coming from the United Kingdom, where we go to great lengths to preserve our wildlife, I can see, from the attitude of the letter writer, why the bird population is now 4 percent of what it was before characters like him moved into this area a hundred or so years ago.

All wildlife is under severe pressure here from development, pollution and intrusion of every description by people, who are forever expanding their domain. Even now the little corners that are left are under threat probably by only a few boaters represented by the letter writer, who must have "more fun" at the expense of everything else.

The world is going to be a very sad place, probably untenable for the human race, if we let the likes of the letter writer extinguish the remaining wildlife just so he can have a fun weekend.
-- Neil Covey, St. Petersburg

Unleashed dogs create disturbing scene

Dogs are not children, although some dog owners think of theirs as such. No matter how well you train your dog, no matter how docile your dog is at home, animals have certain innate urges, such as defending their owners or hunting.

While enjoying a recent walk in Vinoy Park, my wife and I witnessed a group of seemingly harmless poodles, without leashes, being walked by their owners. The dogs went after a squirrel in a tree and eventually killed it, even while one owner stood nearby yelling at the dogs to stop. It was a disturbing scene.

Please, when walking your dog or any pet, keep it on a leash.
-- Dan Fazzini, St. Petersburg

Don't put skate park near senior housing

Re: St. Petersburg joins skating era, by Terry Tomalin, March 1.

As an owner of an apartment in Suncoast Towers at 841 Fourth Ave. N, I would like to ask council members John Bryan, Richard Kriseman and James Bennett how they would like to have a skate park built under their living room and bedroom windows. That is what will happen to our 38 apartments in Suncoast Towers if the skate park is built beneath the overpass of Interstate 275, east of Ninth Street.

This is a 55-plus apartment building, and we all live here because no children are allowed here. There are no children in our area, so all of them would be transported here, creating traffic and parking problems. We are sure there are better areas in St. Petersburg for a skate park.
-- Lowell Hoffman, St. Petersburg

Parking ticket a premature penalty?

I recently moved to Florida and was captivated by the beautiful climate and diverse culture. Rich with artistic displays, recreational activities and lush landscapes, it is obvious why tourism flourishes.

Excited to be taking part in a yearly event, I recently attended an art walk in Pass-a-Grille. After putting my change into the parking meter, I checked the time to be sure that I would return before the meter ran out. Imagine my surprise when I returned to my vehicle an hour later to find that I had been ticketed for an expired meter. I was two minutes late, and my vehicle was in my sight for the last minute of the walk. I saw no officer anywhere in the area.

Are you sure the meters keep the proper time? I would hate to think that out-of-state vehicles are being targeted when tourism is a major source of state income. I pride myself on being an excellent driver with a flawless motor vehicle record. Not even a parking ticket -- well, not until now anyway.

It's a shame that you invite people to your city to help fund local artists and businesses, then force a city contribution by writing premature parking tickets. I read in the Times recently that citizens in certain known "drug areas" were worried about their neighborhoods because of a lack of drug-related arrests. In the same article, the city bragged about the rise in traffic tickets. Maybe the city should place parking meters in these neighborhoods and soon the drug dealers won't be able to afford to do business there.
-- Dawn Malinowsky, Gulfport

Another is ticked off about a ticket

When will local government learn that tourists provide jobs for the locals and help support the city?

I must say I got carried away spending money downtown and at the Pier last month, and time got away from me. I even enjoyed dinner before returning to my car to find a greeting from the St. Petersburg Police Department.

When I had arrived downtown, I saw cars parking along Bayshore Drive. There were no parking meters, so I pulled in and began to enjoy the downtown area. We walked up to the Pier and took the downtown trolley tour and shopped and had dinner. When we returned to our car and found the $17.50 parking ticket, we began to look for a no-parking sign and found one about 100 feet from where we had parked. By walking up the sidewalk instead of walking up the street, we had missed the 90-minute limit on parking.

This is the first parking ticket I have ever received anywhere in the United States. I will be sure and explain to all my friends who will visit the downtown area of St. Petersburg to carry a stop watch and leave after 80 minutes.
-- Joe L. Wilson, Johnson City, Tenn.

U.S. flag should command respect

This letter is addressed to the parents who observed the Seminole Pow Wow parade on March 9.

As a veteran and a member of the Pinellas County Veterans Liaison Council Honor Guard, I am very disappointed in you parents. We marched up 113th Street carrying our beloved American flag, and 99 percent of you did not acknowledge the flag. The only people I saw who stood as we passed by and who either saluted or placed their hands over their hearts were our veterans. They know what the flag stands for. You, as parents, should teach your children all about the flag and what it stands for.

If at the next parade you stand and place your hand over your heart, your children will do the same because they look to you for everything.
-- Frank J. Iamarino, Palm Harbor

Ran out of gas, but governor helped

On my way home from Ocala recently, I realized my van was running out of gas, and I coasted to the side of the road. A truck pulled up behind me. A man came up and asked if I needed help. I explained I was out of gas. He went to his car and returned with 2 gallons of gas and put it into my van. I offered to pay him and he refused, saying, "No, thanks. That is compliments of Jeb Bush and the Interstate Services. It has been in service for about two years."

I had never heard about it, but it sure was a lifesaver, and I want to thank the man from Interstate Services and Jeb Bush.
-- Blake Kennedy, St. Petersburg

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